Parks bond passes in Temple

TEMPLE, TX (KXXV) -
UPDATE: Temple residents voted in favor of a $27.6 million parks bond package. A total of 1,877 ballots were cast, and 69 percent of those ballots voted in favor of the bond package. The package includes 24 projects around the city.

Director of Parks and Recreation Kevin Beavers said two of the projects from the bond package, the Deep Water Pool at Lion's Junction and the Northern Baseball Complex upgrade, will be added to the next city council agenda to open up for bidding.Temple residents will have the chance to vote on a $27.6 million parks bond package that would fund 24 projects around the city.

If passed, the $27.6 million bond package on the ballot is expected to cost the average home owner about $50 a year, or $4.17 a month. Homeowners above the age of 65 will not be affected by the raised taxes.

A fourteen person volunteer Master Plan Sub Committee met for 8 months analyzing the needs of the park system and what improvements Temple needed most. They originally came up with a plan for 44 improvement projects, but city staff narrowed that list down to 24.

If passed, the 24 projects are expected to take up to four years to complete, according to the City of Temple Assistant Director of Parks & Leisure Services Chuck Ramm. The projects range in size. Some are bigger projects, like building a new football field, while others are small improvements like installing a new playground, which is why it could take up to four years to complete all of the projects.

"If this bond were to pass, you would see not only facility improvements but new parks, linkage trails, aquatic facilities, projects that would take place all over the city both north and south, east and west," said Ramm. "So again, there's something for everybody throughout the town and for persons of all ages."

The projects in the bond package include creating new parks, remodeling existing facilities, installing new playgrounds, trails, shade sails, benches, pavilions and restrooms throughout the city.

Saturday is the last day to vote. Voting polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday. Tune in to The Texas Report Saturday night at 10 p.m. for results on the election.

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